*Insert sigh here*

[locker_monster]

Work politics make me weary. I'd rather just keep my head down and not say anything. I'm happy with having someone give me a pile of work and saying, "This needs to be done." That's my role anyway. Administrative assistant. I assist. When people start to argue about their roles and nothing gets done, I so do not want to be around to hear it. It just brings down the rest of the team, you know? Sigh. Anyway, I won't ramble at length about the work situation. I'm just happy I can go home at the end of the day and beat up fake virtual people on the Xbox.

So, random writing thought to spice up this entry. I just started reading Death's Daughter by Amber Benson and it's okay so far. I read the Ghosts of Albion stuff she co-wrote with Christopher Golden, but since she did co-write it, it's hard to tell who wrote what. Anyway, Death's Daughter is her first solo novel and I was kind of disappointed to see that it's written in the first person. I don't know why, but I equate first person POV with lazy writing. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy a book written in the first person. I'm in the middle of The Dresden Files series and I have no problems with Harry narrating everything to me. I just feel like first person is the easy way out. Since you're in the character's head, everything is laid out for you; every thought the character has, you see it and feel it. It's hard to be subtle when it's all right there, flashing in your face like a neon sign. But that's just me.

I'm not sure if I'll make it to the end of Death's Daughter. It's not very engaging at the moment. Though, it's better than reality at the moment...

Comments

[newnumber6.livejournal.com]

I actually kind of agree on the first person. It's a bit lazy. And I say this as someone who's used it a fair bit myself.

I don't mind it in short stories (because they're short, you kind of need to take shortcuts sometimes), but longer novels it can get to grate on me.

I tend to see there as being a few good reasons to use it... like if the character's voice or mindset is so peculiar it demands you being right inside. Or if there's some sort of unreliable narrator thing going on where the character's point of view is disguising big things s/he's either unaware of or actively trying to conceal from the reader, where the reader would feel cheated if a third person viewpoint left it out (though a tight perspective third person view usually makes it unnecessary). Or sometimes, if it's specifically meant to be a diary/letter to somebody, rather than just a long story where the narrator is explaining things they and everyone in their world should already know to ambiguous persons.

But most of the time, it feels to me like a shortcut. I don't hate it, but I prefer third person.

However, I positively love first person when you compare it to second person. HATE THAT. STOP TELLING ME WHAT *I'M* DOING. I'M SITTING AND READING A BOOK, SO RIGHT THERE YOU'RE LYING TO ME. ;)

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the writer and how they use it. I don't mind The Dresden Files because Harry's sense of humour is a lot like mine and with the Odd Thomas series, the author's writing style distracts you from the first person-ness. But it feels like Amber Benson is using it so she can get all the details out there quicker. You know who the main character is, personality wise, instantly, rather than you the reader gleaning it from the events and the character's reactions.

I like third person myself for writing, because, well, I'm lazy and with third person I don't have to provide all the details. :-D And not that I'm a subtle writer or anything, but a short story like "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway? It's all about subtly. A first person narrative would have totally killed the story (Yes, I've read Hemingway; try not to faint).

And second person is only good when you're writing an experimental short, not a novel.

[kefira.livejournal.com]

Let me know if you finish it - I have wondered on and off if I might like it.

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to get through another book as well, but I will definitely let you know if I end up liking Death's Daughter. It has potential.